Remembering with some fondness the Mountain Xpress covering the 2005 election with a fantastic and fair overview of all of the candidates in the running for City Council, I admit that I will miss it somewhat this year. Partisan elections have been re-established in Asheville (unless that petition does its magic). I guess this election year our list of candidates will be a bit smaller and each will have a respective D or R clearly [placed] next to their name, which connects them to such individuals as Nancy Pelosi and George W. Bush, whether they like it or not.
I thought there might be no excitement at all this time around, just a shoe-in of incumbents, and then I heard confirmation that—yes, Elaine Lite is running for Council. That wonderful woman who is always trying to get someone to do something besides say yes to every developer who walks into town waving plans. That marvelous lady who dares to say that creating affordable housing and protecting the environment are not mutually exclusive, and in fact have been done simultaneously in America before.
I admit that she is a friend of mine. I also admit that I think elections should be exciting, and Elaine’s throwing her hat in the ring may be the one thing that makes me cheer and get nervous this November. As much as I like Bryan, Brownie and Jan for certain things they have said and done on Council, I think what Asheville needs right now is Elaine.
— Joel Bassett
Asheville
